Dr. Naseem Salahuddin, a leading infectious disease specialist and professor emerita at Indus Hospital, died in a tragic road accident in Morocco, her family said, in a sudden loss that has shocked the medical community.
Dr Salahuddin, who had recently retired after a long career in the medical service, had traveled to Morocco to attend a meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO), according to family sources.
She was widely respected in medical circles for her work on rabies, tuberculosis and antimicrobial resistance, and her contributions were described by colleagues as important in shaping the public health response in these areas.
Doctors and health professionals across the country expressed their grief and sadness over his passing.
In a statement published on
The hospital said Dr. Salahuddin had been associated with the network since Nov. 1, 2007, and described her as “a beacon of dedication, compassion and excellence in the field of healthcare and infectious diseases.”
He said his lifelong work in patient care, medical education and humanitarian service strengthened the institution’s mission to provide quality, no-cost health care to those in need.
Dr Salahuddin was also described as a strong public health advocate who played a key role in raising awareness and efforts towards a rabies-free Pakistan, with the hospital saying her “tireless work in preventing and treating rabies saved countless lives and brought national attention to an often neglected public health challenge.”
The statement added that his wisdom, humility and dedication had inspired colleagues, students and health professionals, leaving a legacy that would continue to guide future generations.
He said his condolences and prayers were with his family, colleagues, students and all those with whom he had worked or dealt, adding that his legacy of service and compassion would live on in the lives he touched.
He graduated from Fatima Jinnah Medical College in 1967 and later obtained certification in internal medicine from the United States in 1977.
He had also been a member of the WHO Rabies Expert Advisory Panel since 2004.
Throughout her career, she contributed to medical magazines and journals and authored many books on health and medicine.
